"Our goal is to look at the collection, analysis and dissemination of climate information mainly back to the public," Andresen says. "We routinely collect, archive and conduct research on climate data in Michigan and around the Great Lakes basin.

"We strive to make it easier for citizens to find reliable climate data and information."

Andresen has done a lot of work looking at weather patterns in Michigan.

Jeff Andresen

"One general trend is that Michigan has gotten warmer air temperature wise during the last couple decades," Andresen says. "But interestingly it seems to be concentrated mostly in one part of the year, notably at night during the winter."

Night time temperatures during the winter have increased more than 5 degrees in northern parts of the state just since 1980. This appears to be related to the amount and extent of ice cover on the Great Lakes.

"In terms of precipitation, Michigan has become wetter since all the way back to the Dust Bowl years of the 1930's," Andresen says. "It's gradually become wetter ever since."
Andresen looks closely at weather's impact on agriculture.

"If we go back long term, we can make the case for an increase in crop productivity over time," says Andresen. "There are many seasons that are exceptions to this trend, but we know what are major limitations are in Michigan for most crops are precipitation and length of the growing season.

With less ice on the Great Lakes than has been the case in the past, Andresen is seeing an earlier seasonal onset of spring.

"The warm-up is coming earlier than it has in past decades; something on the order of a week to 10 days earlier than in decades past," says Andresen.

Given Michigan's diversity of crops, one would suspect that greater precipitation and gradually warming temperatures would be good for a state with that kind of diversity.

"For some crops like corn, a warmer and wetter climate is positive," says Andresen. "But a wetter climate may lead to more risk of diseases, which for some growers would mean they'd have to spend more money on fungicides.

"There's always a mixed bag of results and impacts and you'd have to look carefully at each crop, and in Michigan that's quite a challenge."

At the conference, Andresen and his AASC colleagues will be discussing their position on global warming.

"We're still working on a statement," Andresen says. "The vast majority of our members are concerned about what has happened and the potential for human impact on climate.

"There's almost overwhelming agreement that climate is changing," Andresen says. "The issue is how much of a human fingerprint is there on these changes.

"While there's great consensus on the ultimate outcome or direction," Andresen says. "There's still much uncertainty as to how fast or how much ultimately the earth might warm."

Objectivity is the most important factor, says Andresen.

"Ultimately we as citizens are going to have to make some difficult decisions," Andresen says. "Most of the best information now is in one camp and points to a warmer world, including here in Michigan and the Great Lakes region."